It is widely known that studying other cultures enriches a person and expands his horizons. This is a truism that people usually repeat but do not apply in their lives. It takes time, energy, and willingness to open up in front of something completely new and different to ingrain some changes into your personality or world views. I think that it is beneficial for teenagers to encounter and study new cultures because they are open to the maximum to new things and have no barriers and prejudices.
Living in the heart of Europe, it is difficult not to encounter neighboring cultures from the very childhood. In my opinion, this is a great initial experience when you can start communicating with a friendly culture that is, at the same time, in general ideas similar to your culture. Moreover, it instills respect and interest and the ability to get along with people who are different from you. In addition, you can learn to adapt more quickly to the culture shock that always comes with exposure to a new environment.
However, encountering a completely different culture is a real challenge that shows your intellectual abilities and psychological readiness to learn new things. For example, it was a challenging and exciting process for me to get acquainted with Japanese culture, which is fascinating and incomprehensible. I have never been to Japan, but I read modern Japanese literature, watched anime, and studied art. The main shock was how the Japanese are able to create perfect things, paying attention to many little details (Suzuki, 2019). What surprised me the most is that they do it not for personal gain or self-centered desire to become famous but because they know how to deeply and sensually enjoy the process itself.
The experience of studying Japanese culture through art has had a profound effect on me. I began to focus on enjoying the process rather than imagining how satisfied I would be with the outcome. It turned out that many simple things can bring joy and be art. It has become much easier for me to learn new things or complete any tasks because now I can find something fun and inspiring in any activity. Thus, if you are ready to learn things that seem bizarre at first, then another culture can teach you new skills and a different approach to life.
Reference
Suzuki, D. T. (2019). Zen and Japanese culture (Vol. 334). Princeton University Press.